Sir Donald Bradman – 90 Not Out
Martin Chandler |Published: 1998
Pages: 24
Author: Rosenwater, Irving
Publisher: Christopher Saunders
Rating: 3 stars
Irving Rosenwater’s only substantial book, on a single subject, was his 1978 biography of Donald Bradman. A substantial volume it remains one of the very best of the many books written on the subject of the great man and much enthused our reviewer, Stuart Wark whose conclusion was Sir Donald Bradman – A Biography is a wonderful book. It was the first truly comprehensive biography of Bradman, and remains the preeminent book on Bradman to this day.
In the circumstances it is perhaps a little surprising that Rosenwater waited until the occasion of The Don’s ninetieth birthday before, at the twenty first time of asking, one of his monographs featured Bradman.
Rosenwater begins with what he describes as a prefatory note, which clearly sets out his position:-
So much has been said about Sir Donald Bradman that even on a landmark occasion as his 90th birthday it may be thought there is nothing more to say. But Sir Donald Bradman has been – and remains – so perpetually interesting that there is always more to say about him.
There are two distinct parts to the monograph. The first is a twelve page essay which, if anyone else had written it I would undoubtedly have described it as hagiographic, but in this case the reverence is, of course, well earned. Four pages of photographs then follow before the second half of the monograph follows under the title D.G. Bradman – A Few Facts.
There then following a selection of fifty short paragraphs each highlighting one of Bradman’s achievements. examples are his 200 or more runs in a day on as many as 27 occasions, and that of his 71 innings against English counties he was dismissed without scoring only once, against Hampshire in 1934.
Sir Donald Bradman – 90 Not Out was the second monograph to be published by Christopher Saunders, and 80 of the 90 (what other limitation could it have had?) copies were for sale
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